Pakistani rupee nearing an all-time low

On Monday, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) fell for the third consecutive session as depleted foreign exchange reserves and uncertainty over the renewal of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme weighed on the local currency.

The PKR lost 0.48 per cent of its value against the US dollar in the interbank market.

The rupee ended the day at Rs187.53, down 90 paisas, or 0.48 percent, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). After a 0.5 per cent decline, the rupee finished at Rs186.63 on Friday.

Considering the latest decline, the local currency is only 65 paisas away from reaching an all-time low of Rs188.18 on April 7, 2022.

Oil prices fell on Monday alongside equities, driven down by a strong dollar and demand fears stemming from China’s continued coronavirus lockdowns.

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The key cause driving the rupee’s decline against the greenback, according to Arif Habib Limited Head of Research Tahir Abbas, is uncertainty on the IMF front.

Uncertainty about the programme led to a surge in selling pressure in Pakistani stocks, which fell throughout the day.